Cabinet was informed of three externally funded projects being progressed, and approval for the work being undertaken and acceptance of the grants and associated conditions.

Both the Inspire2Achieve and the Inspire2Work projects were seeking European Social Funding (ESF) as part of a Competitiveness Regional bid for South East Wales.

Inspire2Achieve &Inspire2Work

The total funding sought for the Inspire2Achieve project was £656,573, made up from £347,481 in ESF grant, with £308,992 sought in match funding. The project would be a schools based intervention focused on reducing and supporting those at risk of disengagement under the age of 16. It aimed to provide a structured alternative learning environment in schools, where young people could engage in life style activities that aimed to improve simple skills such as time keeping, literacy, revision techniques and provided specialist support such as language or mental health assistance. The intention of the project was that these skills would support young people to re-engage with educational activities and maintain their learning through Key Stage 4 into Key Stage 5.

The total funding required for the Inspire2Work project had not yet been finalised. The estimated ESF grant sought was £150,000/£200,000, and £150,000/£200,000 was sought in match funding. Inspire2Work would focus on post 16 NEETs, with the Vale of Glamorgan plan concentrating on 18-24 year olds who were deemed the biggest area of concern given limited local provision.

Welsh Independent Living Grant

The Council would act solely as administrator of the Welsh Independent Living Grant grant. The Welsh Government would be responsible for the scheme and its funding and the total fund allocation for the Vale of Glamorgan was £504,372. The Vale of Glamorgan had a lower than expected number of people currently in receipt of the fund compared to Welsh averages and the allocation was reflective of this. A project group had been restarted in Adult Services to ensure that key stakeholders were kept informed about the changes associated and to enable a smooth transfer of the fund.

Specific Waste Management Grant

The Specific Waste Management Grant funding was used to deliver against the key priorities of the Environment and Sustainable Development (ESD) Directorate within Welsh Government. This allowed each authority some flexibility to shape the funding to its own particular need and opportunities. The Vale’s grant allocation was currently used to meet Welsh Government statutory environmental performance targets which carry infraction fines.

The total grant funding sought was £2,617,164. Of this, £2,482,164 would be allocated to the Specific Waste Management Grant, £100,000 to Flood and Coastal Risk Management and £35,000 to the Tidy Towns project. It was hoped that the grant funding would be matched by Council Revenue funding.

All application grants were considered and supported by the External Funding Steering Group in May 2015.

This was a matter for Executive decision

RESOLVED –

(1) …………….

(2) …………….

(3) T H A T the proposed use of the Specific Waste Management Grant and acceptance of the funding and grant terms be approved.

(4) T H A T in respect of resolution 3 above, the use of article 13.09 of the Council's Constitution (urgent decision procedure) be authorised to enable the Specific Waste Management Grant application to be submitted by the 30 June, 2015 deadline.

Reasons for decisions

(1) …………….

(2) …………….

(3&4) To enable submission of the application prior to the deadline to allow the Council to deliver a sustainable waste management service in accordance with the Welsh Government's Towards Zero Waste strategy.